Class 10 Dropout Builds Rs 13,000 Crore Engineering Giant: The Inspiring Story Of Rakesh Chopdar

Hyderabad-based entrepreneur Rakesh Chopdar, the founder of Azad Engineering, turned an academic setback into an extraordinary business success.

Despite failing his Class 10 examinations and leaving school, he refused to let the setback define his future.

Instead, he joined his father’s small fastener manufacturing business, where he gained hands-on experience in machinery, production processes and engineering, laying the foundation for one of India’s leading high-precision engineering companies.

After spending nearly 12 years learning the trade, Chopdar founded Azad Engineering in 2008.

Operating from a modest 200-square-metre workshop in Hyderabad’s Balanagar with a single second-hand CNC machine, the company focused on manufacturing high-precision engineering components despite limited resources.

A breakthrough came when an overseas customer sought a manufacturer capable of producing a complex aerofoil used in jet engines.

Chopdar accepted the challenge and, after months of research and precision manufacturing, successfully delivered the component. The achievement established Azad Engineering’s reputation and opened the door to international markets.

Today, Azad Engineering manufactures advanced components for the aerospace, defence, energy, and oil & gas sectors.

Its commitment to innovation, quality, and precision has earned the trust of global companies, including Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and GE, while also securing projects with India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

What began as a Rs 2 crore business has grown into one of India’s leading high-precision engineering firms.

In FY 2024–25, the company reported revenue of around Rs 400 crore, while its market capitalisation surpassed Rs 13,000 crore following its stock market listing.

Rakesh Chopdar’s journey demonstrates that determination, practical learning, and innovation can transform adversity into extraordinary entrepreneurial success.

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